UNBOXING A $20 Turntable!
United States of Analog | July 15, 2023
🎙️ Early Video Analysis
What is this video about?
The video is about unboxing and testing a $20 turntable that was ordered from AliExpress as a humorous Father’s Day gift. The host Bob and his son Dylan (who is filming) are exploring what appears to be marketed as the “world’s cheapest turntable” – a device labeled as a “turntable to mp3 converter.” The video seems to be a lighthearted exploration of extremely budget audio equipment.
What gear, products, or brands are discussed?
- $20 turntable from AliExpress – described as “turntable to mp3 converter,” shipped from China, took about a month to arrive
- Audio-Technica SoundBurger – mentioned as the inspiration for purchasing the cheap turntable
What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?
- [00:01:34] The host states “We’re not expecting much” regarding the $20 turntable
- [00:00:39-00:00:53] Bob establishes that the channel covers all price ranges from high-end to low-fi, and “sometimes we get down and dirty”
- [00:01:17-00:01:20] He assumes most of the $20 cost was likely shipping rather than the actual product
Were there any funny moments, strong opinions, or memorable quotes?
- [00:01:24-00:01:26] Bob’s skeptical tone when saying “turntable question mark?” shows his doubt about the product
- [00:02:09-00:02:16] Bob jokingly puts “present” in air quotes when referring to Dylan’s Father’s Day gift, showing the humorous nature of receiving such a cheap item
- [00:02:18-00:02:22] “Yeah, we like to we like to have fun here once” followed by “Oh my god. Wait a minute. What?” suggests Bob is surprised by something he sees during the unboxing
Summary
In this opening portion of the video, host Bob from United States of Analog begins unboxing an extremely budget turntable that cost only $20 and was ordered from AliExpress. The device was given to him as a Father’s Day “gift” by his son Dylan, who is filming behind the camera, and was inspired by Bob’s previous purchase of an Audio-Technica SoundBurger. The turntable is marketed as a “turntable to mp3 converter” and took about a month to ship from China.
Bob establishes that while his channel typically focuses on quality hi-fi equipment, they occasionally explore budget options and “get down and dirty” with low-fi gear. He’s clearly not expecting much from this $20 purchase and suspects most of the cost went toward shipping rather than the actual product quality. The tone is lighthearted and humorous, with Bob joking about the “gift” and questioning whether the device can even properly be called a turntable.
As the unboxing progresses, Bob appears to be surprised by something he discovers in the package, though the transcript cuts off before revealing what caught his attention. The setup suggests this will be an entertaining exploration of what might be the world’s cheapest turntable, with appropriately low expectations but plenty of curiosity about how such an inexpensive audio device might actually perform.
⏱️ Mid-Video Analysis
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this portion?
- [00:04:03] Audio-Technica SoundBurger (for comparison)
- [00:05:35] The $20 “turntable to mp3” device being unboxed
- 45 adapter (described as very cheap)
- Old-school USB cable
- Unbranded cartridge (assumed to be generic)
What are the host’s key findings, verdicts, or opinions?
- [00:04:10] The 45 adapter is “the cheapest I’ve ever seen”
- [00:03:20] The turntable is extremely lightweight, “lighter than a Lego”
- [00:04:45] The tonearm has concerning “play” or looseness, which he sarcastically calls “a feature”
- [00:04:40] Notes that like the SoundBurger, this unit has no counterweight
- [00:05:17] Assumes the cartridge is not a name brand
- [00:05:19] Estimates the entire unit weighs only about two pounds
Any comparisons to other gear mentioned?
- [00:04:03] Direct size/appearance comparison to the Audio-Technica SoundBurger
- [00:04:40] Notes both this unit and the SoundBurger lack counterweights
Any memorable quotes or strong takes?
- [00:03:28] “It’s lighter than a Lego” (expressing surprise at the extremely light weight)
- [00:04:48-51] “Look at the play on that… That’s a feature. That’s a feature?” (sarcastically commenting on the loose tonearm)
- [00:05:42-48] “The hard part is going to be finding a record that I don’t mind destroying”
Summary
In this portion of the video, the host continues unboxing the $20 turntable and examines its basic components and build quality. The unit comes with a very cheap 45 adapter, an old-style USB cable, and what appears to be a generic cartridge. The host is immediately struck by how lightweight the entire turntable is, comparing it to being “lighter than a Lego” and estimating it weighs only about two pounds total.
The host makes a direct visual comparison to the Audio-Technica SoundBurger, noting similarities like the lack of a counterweight on both units. However, concerns about build quality quickly emerge as he discovers significant “play” or looseness in the tonearm mechanism, which he sarcastically refers to as a “feature.” The cartridge appears to be unbranded, which the host assumes given the price point.
The segment concludes with the host preparing to move into actual testing of the device, planning to examine it more closely and then attempt to play music with it. His comment about needing to find “a record that I don’t mind destroying” clearly telegraphs his low expectations for how gently this budget turntable will treat vinyl records, setting up anticipation for the actual performance testing to come.
🏁 Final Thoughts & Verdict
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this final portion?
- Generic “turntable to MP3 converter” [00:06:43]
- Record Doctor (record cleaning machine) [00:06:58]
- Headphone amp [00:07:35]
- Mini SD card [00:07:44]
- USB thumb drive [00:07:52]
- SoundBurger [00:09:17]
- Project Carbon Pro [00:09:22]
- MoFi Studio deck [00:09:22]
- Spotify [00:08:49]
What is the host’s final verdict or conclusion?
[00:08:29-00:09:31] The host concludes this $20-25 turntable addresses the expense barrier to vinyl entry but questions whether it solves the inconvenience factor. He positions it as an option for people who can’t afford higher-end turntables like the Project Carbon Pro or MoFi Studio deck, and who couldn’t get a SoundBurger.
Were there any final recommendations — buy, skip, or consider?
[00:09:15-00:09:31] Conditional recommendation: “If you couldn’t get a SoundBurger, and you don’t want to spend a bunch of money on a Project Carbon Pro or something, or a MoFi Studio deck, then I guess you can get in the game with this.”
Any final tips, caveats, or advice for viewers?
[00:08:38-00:08:52] The host advises some people to skip vinyl entirely: he assesses potential vinyl enthusiasts and sometimes tells them “you can’t handle the expense and the inconvenience of playing vinyl. So don’t go there. Just stream on your Spotify.”
How did the video wrap up?
[00:09:31-00:10:02] The video ended with the host restating the product name, noting it’s a generic product from China with no identifiable manufacturer, and signing off with the channel name “United States of Analog.”
Memorable closing quotes or strong final opinions
[00:08:40-00:08:52] “I’ll look them in the eye, and I’ll try to assess them. And I’ll either say, hey, you can’t handle the expense and the inconvenience of playing vinyl. So don’t go there. Just stream on your Spotify.”
Summary
In this final portion, the host Bob recaps his testing experience with the $20-25 generic turntable-to-MP3 converter. He and Dylan found that most functions worked adequately – the controls functioned, it connected successfully to a headphone amp with solid sound quality, and while the mini SD card recording failed, USB thumb drive recording worked perfectly. The host noted they should have tested tracking force and planned to evaluate the audio quality further.
The discussion shifted to vinyl accessibility, with Bob explaining his typical advice to newcomers about vinyl’s expense and inconvenience barriers. He acknowledged this budget turntable addresses the cost concern but remained uncertain about the convenience factor. The product emerged as actually quite user-friendly during their testing session.
Bob concluded with a qualified recommendation, positioning this generic Chinese turntable as a viable entry point for those unable to afford premium options like the Project Carbon Pro or MoFi Studio deck, or obtain a SoundBurger. While not enthusiastic, he recognized it as a legitimate way to “get in the game” of vinyl for budget-conscious listeners, wrapping up this exploration of ultra-budget vinyl playback equipment.
Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Channel: United States of Analog — hi-fi gear reviews, vinyl, and audiophile culture.
